He's touted as a Prime Minister of the future but South Shields Labour MP and Cabinet Office Minister David Miliband has appeared to launch a political dynasty.

The ex-Downing Street policy supremo, known for his schoolboy looks and glasses, is to be followed into Parliament by his younger brother Ed.

Miliband Major is considered PM material, but his closeness to Tony Blair may count against him if Gordon Brown makes it into 10 Downing Street after the next General Election.

Meanwhile, Miliband Minor could have a bright future as his current job is as special adviser to the Chancellor. However, Ed looks even younger than his brother who, when he was Schools Minister, caused seasoned Westminister veterans to remark that he looked as though he should be in the classroom instead of in charge of them.

Blaydon Labour MP John McWilliam is to quit at the next election and had hoped to be demob happy.

However, he told me: "I don't get the chance. I'm still chairing committees and I'm still chairing adjournment debates in Westminster Hall, Parliament's second chamber, such as yesterday's on mining compensation claims, called by Durham North Labour MP, Kevan Jones.

"I've still got piles of constituency work to do and my successor can't help because he's not allowed access to constituents' personal details. Anyway, he's too busy campaigning."

Mr McWilliam, as a Deputy Speaker at the Commons and veteran MP, might hope for a second coming at Westminster, being elevated to the House of Lords. But he said: "I haven't had any offers."

But I understand if he did get one he'd be on the way from the green benches of the Commons to the red ones of the Lords like a shot.

While on the subject of Mr McWilliam, at the start of Mr Jones' debate yesterday he was accused of talking too quietly. Not something that happens often!

A Berlin-born tourist attempted to get into a debate asking what it was. A security guard said "It's an adjournment debate."

The tourist then asked: "You mean it's in German?"

It wasn't, though many people might think it could as well have been.

She may be North East-raised but Janet Anderson has got into trouble in her east Lancashire constituency for asking a question about imports of caviar.

She was doing it on behalf of a constituent in Rossendale and Darwin, where the Russian delicacy is not common.

Now the local Tories have organised a competition where anyone that spots caviar in the down-at-heel area will be given a slap-up free traditional British meal.

They're confident they won't be paying out for many.

North East MPs are concerned about whether the £1,000m cost to GNER of securing their East Coast Mainline franchise again will hit their constituents.

They fear fares to London and Edinburgh could rise as a result of the five-fold increase in franchise price. But at least it won't affect MPs.

They get the cash from the House of Commons authority, which means the taxpayers pay - in the case of their constituents, twice.